The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-06-16


copy Of this little sork. price 25 cents
aud read IL - Bossa Hyald
-
President Cleveland and the q. A. r.
The nslional epoanpneut Of The q. A. X
IL 10 be held At ST. Louis snd the peopl
of that city have raised large sun o
money 10 make the meeting grand sue
c@sS An invitation ~as extended 4
President Cleveland 10 be prescnt. not b.
the q. A. H. bat by the citizens OF tha
city. This Is contrary TO the custom Of ih'
society, the meetings being entirely 10 th'
interest Of the old soldiers and The organi
cation being non political 10 lis character
Very likely nothing might have been saic
about IL bat there is n general expectation
that Cleveland will be a candidate for |
second tern and this Invitation TO him Il
be present at that time looks like NJ
attempt. on the part Of his friends, TO give
him boom and thus do away with the
bad feeling his pension yetoes produced
among the veterans generally.
Very naturally many Of the veterans
resent this attempt 10 make political CAPT.
.al out Of their organization, especially in
favor OF one who has, as they think.
proved himself no friend to the soldier.
They say no President or political candi-
date has been. heretofore. invited to at
tend these meetings, even when the Office
was held by an old soldier OF the army.
aud ia 1884. when the eucampment was
held at Portland, Mr. Blaine was not 10
yited aud did not attend, although he WAS
in the immediate vicinity. The city Of
st. Louis have A perfect night TO invite the
President to visit their city, but they
should have chosen some other time.
This feeling on the part of the &. A. Il.
organization is quite natural and perfectly
excusable, though we think some OF the
members are showing more feeling in the
matter than the subject warrants. The
following resolutions adopted by the Des
Moines, Iowa, Post show how many OF the
soldiers feel.
Resolved, That proper regard for the
dignity OF the official position he now fills
would have caused Grover Cleveland to
see that he cannot expect to be kindly
greeted by Union soldiers, after bis attacks
upon them, their wives and their children
10 bis malicious vetoes OF ll9 pension bills,
in which with satanic Rlee he so grossly
insulted every Union soldier, and it would
seem to us that he should have sufficient
self.respect not to attempt to crowd him
self before the gaze Of those who utterly
and unslterably dispise him.
Resolved, That il Grover Cleveland and
his friends insist upon using the prestige
of the Grand Army Of the Republic to
obtain an audience, he should send q sub.
stituie, and II possible the person who
represented him in the army during the
war. While we respect the office he fills,
We must be allowed to say that we have
no kind feeling for its present soldier
hating occupant.
On the other hand Gen. Sherman has
written long letter in relation to the
matter from which we make the following
extracts:
1.-The Grand Army OF the Republic is
com posed exclusively of men who served
in the army and navy Of the Union, to
which Mr.. Cleveland does not belong and
therefore he cannot participate in any Of
the proceedings; but the moment the
Grand Army energies from its hall Of de-
Liberation it becomes like the Free Mssons,
Odd Fellows and other societies OF good
men associated for noble purpose, a part
OF the general community, subject to the
laws and ussges of the community.
"Mr. Cleveland is the President OF the
United States, by fair election OF all our
people, Commanderin-Chi of the Army
and Navy of the United States, free to
come aud go wherever the jurisdiction of
this national government extends. He
may visit any fort or ship, where the ma
tional flag may be lowered to manifest
respect to him and his office, and should
A foreign ship fail to do him full honors,
none will be 90 quick to resent an insult
as the members OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic, who perilled life and limb to |
make that flag respected at home and |
abroad. The idea OF his being insulted,
much less endangered, should be be on
he stand alongside OF our Commander.iu.
,hief, General Fairchild. when the Grand
Army is passing in review, seems to me
u onstrous. | think | know the Iowa
BOYS too well to believe such o thing posi-.
Die. Brave men are never ungenerons and
he Iowa soldiers were brave men. /
know it, OF knowledge acquired in battle,
md / win pledge my lie that no Iowa
'oldier will do so humanity an act, and
bould Mr.. Cleveland accept the invita-
ion, which | hope be will, to attend the
parade Of the Grand Army OF Republic at
It. Louis on the 2Sth Of Septembe next,
will stand by his side or march past in
be ranks OF Ransom Post, as may be or
Tered by General Fairchild
I'll notice with pain that the Presidents
elton in certain pension bills enters into
his unhappy controversy. There were
many private bills, aud one Of a general
Iature. which the President vetoed. The
OF the United States compels
he President TO approve or veto each sep.
rate bill, as 1t reaches him from Con-
ress II approved, it becomes law; If
etoed, Il requires an increased majority
1 Congress to Pass it, but the President
an only account for bis judgement by his
wn conception Of duty and to his God.
We, as soldiers, must submit 10 1t. because
is the law. ] do not believe this gov
can ever be too charitable to tue
Id soldiers wounded or In distress by ,,
&c and ipfrmity, and had I been near ,
IT. Cleveland would not have ventured
, advise him on the general bill, but ~ 10 !
BE- private cases | would have said, /,
Charity entered largely into all pensions ,
nd when sny special bills have passed
10 ordeal Of the committees OF the Senate !
I'd House. approve them; but on the /
eneral bill exercise your full eonstitu
onal power
I'VE old soldiers Of the civil war have ,
d yet just cause TO make an Issue on the !,
uesiion OF pensions to our iufrm and |.
ouuded comrades | advise You TO go !,
ght along. prepare the way for the Grand :
rmy 81 the Republic at it's session Of
Gartapttay Dg 1897 NJ